Lower-order batsmen Robbie Hart, Mark Jefferson, and Andrew Penn rescued Central's first innings against Northern at Dudley Park, Rangiora.
Hart batted almost three hours for his unbeaten half-century, firstly in support of Jefferson (35) and then combining with Penn in an unbroken 59-run partnership as Northern recovered to a respectable 261 for eight.
The innings had been tottering after a devastating spell from Northern fast-medium bowler Kerry Walmsley removed Roger Twose, Mathew Sinclair, and Craig Spearman within 15 balls, and without conceding a run.
Central crashed to 105 for four, and was not much better off when the seventh wicket fell at 145.
Hart and Jefferson prevented further erosion by adding 57 runs, and Hart and Penn then saw their side through to stumps.
Day 2: Penn gives selectors reminder
by Geoff Longley
Comeback cricketer Andrew Penn gave the New Zealand cricket selectors a reminder notice of his talents yesterday in Central's Shell Conference match against Northern.
The Central bowler was instrumental in putting his team in sight of outright victory after just two days of the match at Rangiora's Dudley Park.
Penn, who was introduced to the international arena two seasons ago, missed most of last season with injury and sat out Central's opening round match against Southern.
First, however, his determined lower-order batting, in partnership with Robbie Hart, enabled Central to add almost 200 runs for the last three first-innings wickets.
Then he spearheaded some demanding medium-fast seam bowling alongside Alex Tait.
Northern was rolled for only 133 in just over a session and forced to follow on. By stumps the team was in peril at 57 for three, still 160 runs from making Central bat again.
Yesterday's success for Central came after a first game loss to Southern and an opening day against Northern in which it struggled.
``I thought we showed a lot of heart out there in more ways than one, if you'll pardon the pun,''said Central coach Denis Aberhart.
Central wicketkeeper-batsman Robbie Hart led the revival with his fighting innings of 85, his highest first-class score.
He found an able ally in Penn, who reached 74. Together the pair frustrated the depleted Northern attack and added 135 in 195 minutes.
Penn, primarily with Tait, then set about destroying the Northern batting, snaring seven wickets between them. Penn pocketed internationals Blair Pocock and Bryan Young twice in the day for six wickets over all.
``Andrew moved the ball about a bit and Alex bowled nice and straight. Their guys seemed to get stuck on the creaseline a bit,'' Aberhart said.
Five batsmen fell to leg before wicket decisions in the Northern innings, but Aberhart said the wicket was not to blame.
``It was a typical Dudley Park pitch. There was the odd variation in bounce, but it wasn't impossible to bat on.''
Most of Northern's limited resistance also came from its lower order with Simon Doull and Brooke Walker adding 37 for the eighth wicket after Northern had crashed to 66 for seven. Walker later put on 32 with Kerry Walmsley.
Adding to Northern's woes, both Doull and Walmsley are out of the match with injury, Walmsley having sustained a shoulder muscle tear which will sideline him for several weeks while Doull has a calf muscle strain.
Walmsley had just returned to the game after a hamstring problem.
United Nations look
The Central side has something of a United Nations look to it with players drafted in from both northern and southern regions, combining five major associations over all.
Robbie Hart capped a memorable day with two catches, the first a splendid diving effort to remove Pocock who in the first innings had at least lasted to be sixth out.
Earlier, his 85 from 278 minutes and 214 balls with 14 fours had surpassed his previous best of 78 from 45 first-class matches.
Penn posted his second highest score, batting 206 minutes, facing 185 balls and hitting 12 fours and a six.
Day 3: McMillan in form with ball
by John Coffey
Craig McMillan is delighted that the greater emphasis he has placed on perfecting his bowling technique is paying dividends at first-class level.
A three-wicket burst by McMillan, the Central captain, finished off Northern in a one-sided Shell Conference cricket match at Rangiora yesterday.
Northern ignominiously lost its last seven wickets for 28 runs as it crashed to defeat by an innings and 132 runs before lunch on the third day.
McMillan praised the efforts of Robbie Hart and Andrew Penn in propping up the Central innings and giving his bowlers a platform to display their talents.
``Andrew Penn and Alex Tait bowled straight, and Penn's fire and aggression made life difficult for their batsmen on a pitch that wasn't offering much,'' he said.
Pressed, McMillan revealed his satisfaction with his own progress from medium-paced trundler to true all-rounder. In two Conference matches he has taken six wickets at 13.66 runs each.
``I think my bowling has come on a great deal in the last year. I'm picking up more wickets, have added a couple of variations, and am enjoying it.''
Five of McMillan's victims have fallen to sharp, rising deliveries four skying the ball to fieldsmen and the other gloving a catch through to the wicketkeeper.
``Some people have said it is my stock delivery,'' chuckled McMillan. ``I just decided to bang it in this season and see what I can get out of the pitches. So far, it's been pretty successful.''
McMillan has modelled his bowling style on that of famed Australian all-rounder Steve Waugh. He has added a slower ball out of the back of his hand and is seeking to perfect a quickish off-spinner.
``I spend a lot of time bowling in the nets. I experiment with different things then try them in a game. They don't always work, but I'm always prepared to try something,'' he said.
While McMillan was bubbling at the effectiveness of his bouncers, Northern coach Chris Kuggeleijn was contemplating a second unsatisfactory and abbreviated match.
``We didn't bat very well, and they bowled very well. We were probably a bit more underdone than the other side,'' said Kuggeleijn.
Simon Doull will be fit for Northern's match with Pakistan A at Lincoln Green from Monday, but Canterbury medium-fast bowler Shane Bond had been drafted to replace injured Kerry Walmsley.
Kuggeleijn acknowledged that Bryan Young and Blair Pocock, contenders to open the New Zealand batting, would be under pressure to make sizeable scores against Pakistan A after failing at Rangiora.